How much do you have to make to collect unemployment in Washington ESD?

Thanks! So the base period isn't just the last 12 months? I'm still working but only getting like 200 bucks a week now.

Right, it's quarters not months. And you can still collect partial benefits if your hours were reduced significantly. You'll need to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claims.

Did you have trouble getting through to Washington ESD when you filed? I keep hearing the phone lines are impossible.

Yeah the phone system is brutal. I actually used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

Ugh this is getting confusing. How do I figure out what my base period quarters are exactly?

If you file in January 2025, your base period would be January-March 2024, April-June 2024, July-September 2024, and October-December 2024. Washington ESD has a calculator on their website that can help you determine eligibility.

The calculator is helpful but sometimes the website glitches. I had to call to verify my base period wages were calculated correctly.

If you only worked 3 months and it was all in one quarter, you probably won't meet the two-quarter requirement. You need earnings in at least two different quarters of your base period.

ugh of course. typical government BS making everything complicated

If your 6 months spanned two quarters, you might still qualify. The key is having earnings in at least 2 quarters AND meeting the 1.5x rule. So if your highest quarter was $8400, you'd need at least $12,600 total in your base period.

Math makes my head hurt but I think I barely qualify then. Guess I better file and see what happens.

What's the alternate base period exactly? This is the first I'm hearing about it.

The alternate base period uses the last 4 completed calendar quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. So it includes more recent earnings that might not be in your standard base period.

What counts as job search activities? I've been applying to places but wasn't keeping detailed records.

Applications, networking contacts, job fairs, even some online training courses count. You have to log them in WorkSourceWA. Keep detailed records because they do audit these.

The job search requirements are no joke. I got a warning letter for not having enough activities logged one week.

The monetary eligibility requirements are reviewed annually and can change. For 2025, it's still $3,850 but you should always check the current requirements on the Washington ESD website when you file.

But if I wait too long, won't I miss out on benefits for the weeks I could have been collecting?

True, it's a balancing act. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, so don't wait too long. Just something to consider if you're right on the borderline.

That's basically what I did too. The online application walks you through most of it anyway. If there are issues, they'll send you a determination letter explaining what's missing.

Yeah but then you might get stuck in adjudication for weeks waiting for them to review your case. Better to have your ducks in a row first.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. They have some system that gets you through the phone queue way faster. Worth checking out if you're stuck trying to reach someone.

I got through once after calling 47 times in one morning. The agent was helpful but man what a waste of time getting there.

OK that example actually makes sense. I think I qualify based on that formula. Time to file I guess!

Make sure you have all your employer information handy when you file. They need dates of employment, reason for separation, etc. for each job.

How much do they deduct? Like if I make $200 in a week, do I lose $200 in benefits?

No, they use a formula. Generally the first $5 is disregarded, then they deduct 75% of your earnings above that from your weekly benefit amount. So working part time is usually still worth it financially.

Wait, so filing the claim doesn't automatically start the payments?

Nope! You file your initial claim to establish eligibility, then you have to file weekly claims (usually online) to actually request payment for each week. Miss a week and you don't get paid for that week.

I didn't quit or get fired, just had my hours cut way back. Should be pretty straightforward then right?

Reduced hours due to lack of work is typically an approved reason. Just be honest about the circumstances when you file.

Even straightforward cases can end up in adjudication sometimes. The system flags things for review pretty aggressively.

How do you request that? Is it something you can do online?

I think you have to call or maybe send a written request. It's not something I found online when I looked. Might be worth asking about if your calculated benefits seem too low.

Thanks everyone! This thread has been super helpful. I'm going to file this weekend and see what happens.

Good luck! And remember that Claimyr service if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Saved me a lot of headaches.

This is so important. I had a friend who got hit with an overpayment because they couldn't prove they were doing job searches. Cost them thousands.

Noted! I'll start keeping better records right away. Thanks again everyone!